A/N: Hello all! I had exams to contend with so didn't get a chance to get to this story until now. Hopefully I didn't anger any of my readers! Well first and foremost thank you everyone for the reviews/alerts/favs, really made my day. I responded to the reviews unless you have your private messaging turned off. Anyways, on with the story!

Spoilers: Up to Season 3 episode 13

Pairings: ArthurXGwen; slight GwenXLancelot; There is no slash in this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own "Merlin".

Chapter 3: The New Priestess

Arthur was standing around the training grounds with all of his Knights. He was disappointed to see very few of them, but he wouldn't let that get to him.

"As of this moment we are the only defence Camelot has! We must do whatever it takes to keep in shape. I have already sent out messengers throughout the Kingdom in hopes of bringing in some new recruits for our army."

He turned to look at his newly Knighted companions and said, "We have four newest members among us, two of whom I'm sure you recognize. The others I've introduced to you all. They were a great help to me during Camelot's time of need and have earned their right to stand beside us. The King is planning to change the first code of Camelot, thereby allowing Percival, Gwaine, Lancelot, and Elyan to stay within our ranks."

This brought a cheer from his old Knights and a smile from the new ones. Arthur nodded and said, "I think we've had enough rest for now. I need all of you battle ready unfortunately. Very few men from our army have survived and they are all injured. So I'm going to pair you up to go through basic drills," He turned to the four new men in his ranks, "You four will be paired up with four older Knights so they can help you along."

The four nodded and Arthur split the company up. He would have participated himself but his mind was elsewhere. Lancelot and Gwaine had enquired after Merlin but Arthur hadn't told them much. Just that Merlin was out and Arthur didn't know when he'd be back. Surprisingly, they'd left it at that.

It wasn't a lie; Arthur didn't know when Merlin would be back, if at all. He mentally shook his head to clear away that nasty thought and watched his Knights. He didn't want to think about Merlin dying. Some part of him was angry that he hadn't stopped the foolish servant from rushing headlong into danger, but at that time Arthur had been in too much shock.

By the time he had come to his senses Merlin was already gone. He could only hope that Gaius would figure out where the Isle was so Arthur could go after Merlin. However, he had been to Gaius's chambers this morning but the physician had said he hadn't found anything yet. Then again Gaius was busy with the wounded. So he understood that the physician couldn't spend all his time doing research.

Arthur would have helped Gaius himself but the physician had reminded the Prince that Camelot was at its weakest right now and needed Arthur. The Prince had reluctantly agreed and started training his Knights. He couldn't even keep his Knights with him for long, they were needed for guarding the castle. He headed towards one of the tables lining the edges of the grounds where he had a map of the castle laid out.

He was thinking up strategic areas where he could place his Knights and a few surviving men from his army. Certain areas would have to go unguarded since he didn't have enough men. He was waiting on some of his messengers to return. He had sent them out to all the towns and villages in the Kingdom to find able-bodied men, be they peasants or noblemen. With the rules his father was planning on officially changing soon, social status won't matter.

He hoped within a few weeks' time he would have more people under his command. He'd feel less insecure then. He looked up to see his men continue with practice, he signalled Leon to rotate every few minutes and pored over the map. His mind though was still flitting around his servant's words, 'to save a life a life must be given in return.'

Those words hadn't left the prince's mind. He had heard those very same words uttered by his mother...or at least what he had thought was his mother. Had that been an illusion? Then had Merlin lied? Merlin had stared straight at Uther as he had said those words.

Then the part about the sorcerer Nimueh, where Merlin said he had killed her. How could he have done so without being a sorcerer himself? If Merlin turned out to be a sorcerer, Arthur didn't know what he would do. But a certain selfish part hoped he was so that a lot of the confusing events that surrounded Merlin would be cleared. Arthur had always known there were times Merlin lied to him. He would never push the servant to tell the truth because clearly Merlin thought Arthur wasn't ready for it.

Although he knew Merlin lied from time to time Arthur still trusted him, which was a slightly scary notion. However, Arthur would never have told Merlin half the things that lay in his heart if he hadn't trusted him. Merlin had stuck by him through thick and thin, so if he had lied to Arthur about being a sorcerer...then the Prince would give him time to explain before passing judgement.

With that thought Arthur's mind calmed. The whirlwind of thoughts rushing about in his head, since Merlin left yesterday, quietened. The decision he had taken was monumental in and of itself, but he owed it to Merlin to give him a chance.

As unpleasant as the thought was, an echo of what Morgana had once said passed through his mind, "Sometimes you've got to do what you think is right and damn the consequences!"

Merlin was kneeling on the floor at the Isle of the Blessed tense and ready to be attacked. He kept a wary eye on the priestess, so he wouldn't miss a single move she made. She didn't seem to be in any hurry to talk, she seemed more inclined to study the warlock.

Merlin though needed answers so he broke the silence, "You are a high priestess I assume..."

She smiled softly and nodded. Although the smile should have been comforting, Merlin couldn't relax. The power rolling off the woman was enormous. A fleeting comic thought passed through his head, 'I thought I was supposedly the most powerful warlock to have lived...' Oddly the voice in his thoughts sounded whiny.

When the priestess shifted slightly Merlin snapped out of his ridiculous thoughts and focused on her again. Cursing himself in the process.

He questioned her again getting straight to the point, "Are you planning to kill me?"

The priestess eyes widened slightly then she smirked and said in her lilting tone, "Now why would you think that? Then again if I wanted you dead you wouldn't be talking to me right now."

Merlin blinked as a trickle of fear entered his heart. He pushed it away underneath his regular veil of sarcasm, "The previous ones never seemed to tire of talking and plotting revenge on me or Camelot."

The priestess chuckled and said, "None of the other ones you've met were me."

No matter how much Merlin felt the need to stand her power kept him on his knees, as if he were bowing to her. He thought at first maybe she was doing it, but realized that her aura just made him want to bow to her. It was disconcerting to say the least. Merlin never did well with subservience. The Crowned Prince of Camelot would attest to that, and maybe even have a laugh at Merlin's current state.

Merlin still not satisfied asked, "So why are you here? Clearly you have no intention of helping Morgana revive Morgause. You would have shown yourself before-hand otherwise...why weren't you the one here last time instead of Nimueh?"

"I'm here now because our meeting was fated to happen at this moment. It is Morgause's time to die so I have no intention of helping Morgana. Besides, Morgause has already stopped breathing. The exchange of lives only works if the victim is still breathing. You should know that. To answer your last question, I wasn't here before because you were not meant to meet me at that time."

Merlin blinked slightly suspicious, "So is there a reason why I'm meeting you now?"

The priestess smiled and said, "I'm here to answer your questions I suppose...you do have a lot of them correct? After all Kilgharrah tends to like speaking in riddles."

Merlin was still suspicious, "You know the Great Dragon..."

"I have lived for a long while Merlin, almost as long as Kilgharrah, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that I know him. You need not be suspicious I am on your side so to speak..."

Merlin relaxed but only slightly. She was right he did have many questions. He still didn't fully understand this whole destiny business but first, "What do I call you?"

She replied, "My name is Andromeda, you may call me that if you wish."

Merlin nodded, "You are right I do have a lot of questions. You said it was Morgause's time to die...does that mean you can see the future?"

"No I cannot see the future...however there are other High Priestesses who are seers. There are many prophecies and destinies that have been foretold by them. Certain people such as you, Arthur Pendragon, Uther Pendragon, Morgana...and others have destinies that affect Albion as a whole. Therefore, we need to be careful to watch you."

Merlin confused asked, "Watch us?"

"Yes, watch you. We need to make sure you do not stray from the path."

Merlin was shocked, "Stray from the path..." A spark of fury raced through his mind, "So we're just play things!"

Andromeda shook her head, "You do what you want to do young warlock. We do not interfere unless and until the decisions you've made are monumental enough to affect the bigger picture."

Still angry he said, "So we have no freedom to choose anything!"

"You chose the path you want to walk on by yourself Merlin. No one told you to remain by Arthur's side to protect him. Yes the dragon may have told you about the prophecy, but the decision to stick by it was yours. You could have easily turned away from it all."

Merlin laughed bitterly, "And then have you come and push me back to the same destination?"

Andromeda frowned, "You do not understand...the destiny that you are born with can be changed Merlin. It is unfortunate that your destiny has a great impact on Albion thereby making it something that must come to pass. However, destinies are tricky things. Your destiny suits your personality does it not?"

Merlin blinked...it did make some form of twisted sense. He had never fit in at Ealdor so his mother had sent him to Gaius who surprisingly lived in Camelot where Arthur was Prince. At first he had thought it coincidence but he had come to realize that there was no such thing as coincidence in this world.

Andromeda continued, "You were the odd one back at your home village and coming to Camelot gave you a purpose...a place to fit in. Even if your magic may endanger your life you wouldn't trade your place in Camelot for the world."

Merlin nodded conceding defeat, "So basically everything we do has already been decided for us since birth..."

Andromeda said, "Well...not exactly. Everyone has a choice Merlin. You could have chosen to go back to Ealdor when you saw your first execution. Gaius could have chosen to turn you into Uther. Arthur could have forced his father to not place you as his manservant. There were many things each of you could have done differently. It's just your characters would not have let you do so."

Merlin blinked still slightly confused, "But you said you would have pushed us in the right direction...?"

Andromeda sighed, "Unfortunately, you, Arthur, and a specific few people around you are too important to Albion as a whole. The prophecy Merlin gave many of us hope. There are other magic users such as the druids who are biding their time waiting for you and Arthur. To bring back magic we need you and these people to follow a specific path. So just you people are the ones we would guide. However, we never had to intervene. Your destinies as I said before are perfectly moulded to your personalities. It is an aspect of nature that even we priestesses do not understand.

"There are more examples I can give you. Since you decided to stay in Camelot you met Gaius who decided to keep your secret after your mother chose to write a letter. Gaius could have sent you back but your mother who didn't want you going to Camelot without a proper explanation to Gaius wrote a letter for him. This gave Gaius, who had helped sorcerers in the past, a reason to keep you around. Then meeting Arthur the way you did.

"You could have chosen to ignore the blatant bullying but you did not. This raised Arthur's curiosity, which made him talk to you again although you were trying to ignore him and you being who you are couldn't let him go without teaching him a lesson." At this Andromeda's lips twitched and Merlin also couldn't help but chuckle in remembrance.

"That encounter increased Arthur's curiosity, which is what made him keep you as his manservant. You could have let the dagger hit the prince but you didn't, again a choice you made on your own. No part of the prophecy played in your head did it?"

Merlin shook his head. He hadn't thought about the prophecy at all he just saved Arthur, even though back then he didn't like the Prince.

Andromeda continued, "Exactly...do you see now? Uther made you manservant and you at first stuck around because you needed a purpose. The dragon had given you that purpose, but you could have left. However, you started to see another side to the Prince that showed you a shadow of the King he is destined to be. So you stuck around and Arthur, no matter how much he denied it, enjoyed having someone like you as a servant. You were different. Then slowly as you spent more time with each other your relationship evolved to friendship and you would never let your friend die Merlin."

Merlin sighed and nodded. He supposed it made sense. It was still slightly overwhelming. Each one of the actions he had taken had unwittingly helped the prophecy along. If Andromeda hadn't explained it to him in this way he wouldn't even have realized it.

She continued, "I'm telling you this right now because you're the type of person that doesn't let things like destiny guide your decisions. I have already seen that. Without thought about destiny you were ready to give your life to not only save Arthur's but your mother's as well."

Suddenly another question sprung to mind, "Why didn't Nimueh take my life when I asked it of her?"

Andromeda sighed, "Nimueh was wrong in what she did to you Merlin, however even if I had been in her place I wouldn't have taken your life."

Merlin frowned, "So you would have done exactly what she did?"

Andromeda shook her head, "No, I would have told you to choose someone else's life instead of your own as the price. Do you understand why I wasn't the one you met? Do you see the twisted ways that destiny creeps up on us all. Even we immortals are bound by its laws."

Merlin blinked, "I guess that does make sense. If I had been asked I wouldn't have known what to do. The way it worked was for the best."

Andromeda nodded, "You learned a valuable lesson that day. I think that was when you truly realized the extent of your power and what you were capable of when pushed. Also Nimueh, you knew, couldn't be left to do as she pleased anymore."

Merlin nodded, "You could have stopped a lot of things from happening...why didn't you? In fact, your probably powerful enough to kill Uther so why do you stay here?"

"As I said before we are all bound by the laws of destiny. We priestesses must follow the laws Merlin. Nimueh and Morgause were not true priestesses so they could get away with doing as they did without any repercussions. The true High Priestesses of the Old Religion are all immortal and do not live in the same plane of existence as mortals do. We have different laws that must be followed. One of them is our interference with mortal lives.

"The only time we're allowed to interfere is when...well in cases such as yours I suppose. Besides if I had killed Uther when he started the Great Purge you would never be born. If I had stopped Nimueh from agreeing to grant Uther's wish for a child then Arthur would never be born. If I had helped you out any other times then you would have relied too much on me and not learned the valuable lessons you did.

"Each of the events that have taken place in your life teaches you certain things that will enable you to become the warlock of legends in the future. It is the same for Arthur. It is true that many atrocities could have been avoided with my help, but the repercussions of my interference would have been greater. I do not know what would have happened but it would not have been good.

"For example, you kept Morgana alive although it would have been easier to kill her. That was good. Your destinies are entwined and killing her before her time would have terrible consequences. Once again destiny plays its subtle hand. I didn't need to tell you that Morgana shouldn't die your personality and way of thinking already made it such that her time of death would not be today."

Merlin's eyes widened, 'This was more complicated than it seemed...'

Andromeda chuckled softly, "I see I have overwhelmed you young warlock. I'm also quite sure I have answered a lot of your questions correct? There are certain questions I cannot answer but I will endeavour to answer as many as possible. Do you have any more?"

Merlin thought for a second and then stated, "The sword...the dragon said no one can use it...but it was forged for Arthur correct?"

Andromeda smiled, "Ah yes...that sword in time will farther a legend of its own. Its name is Excalibur. Arthur is not yet ready to use that sword, however keep it in mind for later. The prince will need it, he is the only one that can use it without corruption."

Merlin nodded, "Freya...what happened with her..."

Merlin couldn't complete that statement. Some part of him knew that their meeting had also been part of destiny.

Andromeda smiled sadly, "Your love for her Merlin was your choice alone. Love is as complex an emotion as destiny itself. I'm sure you know that it is a force more powerful than magic."

Merlin smiled slightly relieved and nodded. He remembered the dragon's words from the day Arthur had been enchanted to love Lady Vivian.

Andromeda continued, "Your meeting though had been destined. Her dying the time she did...that was supposed to happen. She is now given a new name...she is The Lady of the Lake. She is the guardian for the Lake of Avalon. One thing though, the freedom you gave her Merlin that was your choice alone, you must remember that. She would have died anyways, but you saved her from an eternity of misery by allowing her to die in the arms of the one she loved."

Merlin felt his eyes well up and blinked forcefully to avoid the tears from spilling. He asked another question to push aside his grief, "The dragon...his attack on Camelot..."

Andromeda watched him intently for a second before she answered his question, "Kilgharrah knew what he was doing. Yes, part of the dragon was hell-bent on revenge, however he knew you also needed your powers to awaken. But you must understand the dragon had nothing to do with your father's death."

Merlin smiled bitterly, "So it wasn't destined?"

Andromeda smiled sadly, "I'm sorry Merlin...it was necessary...your father was destined to die at that time...without it your powers as a dragonlord would not have awakened."

Merlin looked to the ground out of questions. He had enough to think about as it is. He didn't want to relive any part of those weeks. Gaius's almost death, Arthur's mother, Freya, Morgana's betrayal, the Knights of Medhir, the Dragon's attack...those times had not been pretty. They had taken their toll on Merlin.

Andromeda it seemed realized the direction of Merlin's thoughts for she said, "Whatever has happened Merlin has made you who you are today. You may not be as innocent and naive as you were when you first entered Camelot but as you are now will help you in the future."

Merlin just sat and stared at the ground far too tired to even attempt a nod. His eyes were getting slightly heavy.

He sleepy asked, "Where did you send Morgana?"

Andromeda said, "To the hide out she shared with Morgause. You must be cautious Melrin. She will not give up. The bond you created was easily made because of your combined destinies. It was a good trick but it has disadvantages."

Merlin said, "I know..."

He didn't have the energy to say more.

Andromeda continued, "It is a testament to your powers that you've been able to stay awake for this long. The bond ties you wholly to another being which consequently puts a lot of pressure on your mind. The caster feels the tiredness less, however they too succumb to it within a half hour or so. You have stayed awake for a couple of hours now."

Merlin suddenly had a thought, "The Cup..."

Andromeda nodded and said, "That will remain with us. It's appropriate place is here on the Isle. I believe it's time you took your leave Merlin. You are far too tired for anymore questions. Besides I am sure I have answered almost all of them."

Merlin smiled drowsily and said, "You couldn't possibly magic me back to Camelot could you?"

Andromeda laughed outright at that, the sound like the chiming of bells, and said, "No Merlin. That would be a little risky. I don't think it will be wise for the suspicions of certain people to increase about you."

Merlin frowned confused and was about to ask her to elaborate when he saw her make a hand gesture. She muttered a few words and he felt himself fading slightly.

"I will leave you with your horse around the river's edge. I have cast a small spell on you. It will give you the energy to reach Camelot. However, take care not to stray too far Merlin the spell will only hold for so long. Good luck young warlock. Till next we meet..."

Merlin's view of the Isle faded and as he blinked he found himself beside his horse. The animal neighed and scampered away in fright. Merlin felt his tiredness leave him. He stood and went to pat the horse's nose to calm the animal.

He looked up to see it was starting to get dark. Telling time at the Isle was almost impossible with the thick fog that surrounded the place, so he hadn't realized the time. Andromeda had said to head for Camelot because the spell wouldn't hold for long but it was getting too dark to see. He couldn't travel through the night. He turned to look in the direction of Camelot and saw to his astonishment a silvery stream of light illuminating the trail home.

He then heard Andromeda's voice in his head, "The trail will guide you home Merlin. Follow it. Do not worry no one else can see it except you."

Merlin smiled thankfully. Then he climbed up onto his horse and started his way home. His mind on overdrive with all the information he had found out from Andromeda.

A/N: I'm gonna leave it there for now. I know I'm evil, I haven't gotten to the Arthur-Merlin confrontation yet! Don't worry it'll happen next chapter that's all I'm saying! Also just for a little background info the name Andromeda means "leader of men"...origin is Greek. I got it off the net while I was looking for appropriate names for a powerful priestess. I think it fits don't you?

One question: Should I have Gwaine know about Merlin's powers in the next chapter or not? It would make the Lancelot-Gwaine-Merlin friendship a lot stronger and I'm planning on having these three together for some scenes. So give me some feedback on the chapter as well as this question!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter and will keep reading the story! Please review!